Site Placement

7-15-11

I had my second interview with the director of health for my site placement today.   They had us fill out a form about what experience, education or background we wanted to be considered as well as whether we want a site mate, a roommate (only one of us will get a roommate), joint placement with 2 or more organizations, urban vs rural site, overlap with another volunteer (first 3 months), if we prefer a community, faith or nongovernment based organization, if we are interested in working with people living with HIV (PLWH), holding small classes (aka palestras) on HIV / malaria / nutrition or other health related issues, and if there was one wish they could grant us about our site… what would it be.    I emphasized my background and education in youth and child development as well as my desire to be involved in urban development rather than rural.   I also mentioned that I want to be active in the REDES group, a girls group focused on women empowerment, and that I heard if you are placed in the south of Moz then it is more likely that you could hold a leadership position within REDES, which is really important to me.  Some of the possible positions are program coordinator, financial director, regional and national director.  Any of these positions would be amazing to put on my resume but I am really striving for national director of REDES!

 I went on a site visit to Inharrime, which is in the southern region, and visited Ann Davis.  She has two edu site mates, Scooter and Erin.  I believe Ann is the program coordinator and Scooter is the financial director or REDES.  I asked a lot of questions about how one goes about becoming a part of leadership for REDES and they said a lot of it is situational.  People in leadership need to be accessible to Maputo for meetings and conferences so sometimes there could be a more qualified person in the North but it is just too inconvenient for them to be in a leadership position because of location.   Entao (and so) I asked to be placed in the south to ensure that I can be more involved in REDES.  I also talked about my experience with gardening and my interest in having a garden, or two, at my site.  For my one wish for site I asked to be placed in an urban area where there are opportunities for development.  So even if the organization that peace corps places me with doesn’t have a lot of work for me to do, I can go out and find other organizations at my site that I could work with as well.   I just think I wouldn’t be happy at a site where there is only one organization for me to work with because if they don’t have a lot of work I will feel unproductive.  I understand that Moz has a completely different definition of productive than the average American but I just want there to be various options for development and growth.   I kinda wish I had emphasized that I wanted a site mate but I think that if I am in an urban area I will most likely have a site mate or someone not too far away.   I felt like it was more important for me to ask for more work than a site mate if it came down to either or.  

We find out on wed where we will be placed for the next two years and I think we are all nervous and anxious to find out!  But I think it will all work out and I am trying to focus and attain the mindset that no matter where I am placed I will have to go out there and find work for myself.  Peace corps is not handing us development work, this program is really set up for a self starter who will have to go out into a community and find work for themselves.  It is now clear to me that the peace corps experience is more focused on cultural exchange than development but I can adjust and still appreciate the opportunity.   And in the real world nobodies gana give you anything, you have to get it for yourself!  So im more or less thinking about it as if I moved to Moz for two years…  see what I can do to help and the peace corps just happens to be paying for my expenses lol  in hopes to avoid frustrations of lack of  structure.   I know overall this will be a great experience for personal and professional growth!